Sign in with Facebook
Loading...
80th out of 94 books
—
10 voters
Tension City: Inside the Presidential Debates, from Kennedy-Nixon to Obama-McCain
by
Jim Lehrer
“In his quiet but intense way, Jim Lehrer earns the trust of the major political players of our time,” notes Barbara Walters. “He explains and exposes their hopes and dreams, their strengths and failures as they try to put their best foot forward.”
From the man widely hailed as “the Dean of Moderators” comes a lively and revealing book that pulls back the curtain on more th...more
From the man widely hailed as “the Dean of Moderators” comes a lively and revealing book that pulls back the curtain on more th...more
Hardcover, 224 pages
Published
September 13th 2011
by Random House Publishing Group
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
475)
It's tempting to describe this book in terms of what it is not. It is not a comprehensive history of presidential debates. It is not a description of the debate process in general (although there is enough mention of the Commission on Presidential Debates to leave you wanting to learn more about it.) And most importantly, it does not at any point address the question I was dying to ask, which is, why does no political "debate" resemble the discipline of Debate I learned about in high school? You...more
A humor and introspective look at presidential debates from the undisputed master moderator. While there is some funny and insightful commentary, this is not a tell-all or salacious gossip story. Lehrer mostly narrates and let's the candidates tell their stories, much like his trademark interview style. Particularly of interest was how serious he took them, how much prep work he did, and how focused he was in the moment. A civil, insightful book that kept me turning pages well into the night.
My...more
My...more
[Reviewed from a galley from Book Expo America 2011. Expected publication date 9/13/2011]
In college, I took a course called "Presidential Rhetoric," taught by a former George HW Bush speechwriter. The class was an interesting study of what presidents say, why and how they say it, and who puts the words into their mouths. Lehrer's new book -- his first nonfiction work in two decades, according to the author bio -- would be a good addendum to a course of that type. I know I'm not the only person w...more
In college, I took a course called "Presidential Rhetoric," taught by a former George HW Bush speechwriter. The class was an interesting study of what presidents say, why and how they say it, and who puts the words into their mouths. Lehrer's new book -- his first nonfiction work in two decades, according to the author bio -- would be a good addendum to a course of that type. I know I'm not the only person w...more
Tension City was much better than I expected. This book was a required reading for a class I have to take this year. Considering the required reading for a similar class last year was terrible, I did not know what to expect from this book. After reading this book, my response was it was much better than last year. This book gives a lot of information about the most important part of a presidential campaign, the debates. Considering that Lehrer witnessed most of these debates first hand, this boo...more
Famously beginning with the Nixon-Kennedy debate, televised presidential debates have defined the modern era of presidential elections. But after the Nixon-Kennedy debate another presidential debate was not held until the Carter-Ford debate in 1976 (the first vice presidential debate was also held in 1976). They have been a mainstay of the quadrennial presidential election season ever since.
Jim Lehrer is uniquely qualified to write an account of the presidential debates. He has moderated 11 of t...more
Jim Lehrer is uniquely qualified to write an account of the presidential debates. He has moderated 11 of t...more
“In his quiet but intense way, Jim Lehrer earns the trust of the major political players of our time,” notes Barbara Walters. “He explains and exposes their hopes and dreams, their strengths and failures as they try to put their best foot forward.”
From the man widely hailed as “the Dean of Moderators” comes a lively and revealing book that pulls back the curtain on more than forty years of televised political debate in America. A veteran newsman who has presided over eleven presidential and vice...more
From the man widely hailed as “the Dean of Moderators” comes a lively and revealing book that pulls back the curtain on more than forty years of televised political debate in America. A veteran newsman who has presided over eleven presidential and vice...more
Jim Lehrer has produced an easy, interesting, sometimes humorous, anecdote-filled read about his 20 years moderating presidential debates. Like the author himself, there’s nothing flashy about his writing style; it’s very simple and direct. In fact, Lehrer is so conversational in his tone that at times it seems like he is sitting on a front porch telling tales on a lazy summer afternoon. This makes for an enjoyable read but not a particularly revealing read. Don’t expect anything salacious or sh...more
Jul 29, 2012
Cali
added it
I have always had an extreme interest in politics and government, which is why this book was interesting to me. Although I had to read it for a class of mine, I am very happy I did. I was able to learn a lot about previous politicians as well as their debates with candidates of theirs. This book went behind the scenes of debates with Jim Lehrer, adding to the detail and interest of the book. I not only was able to learn a lot about something I was interested in, but I was able to discuss the deb...more
For people who follow presidential debates, Tension City is both wonderful for its insights on the process and tiresome for its focus on the "key debate moments" that we have heard about many times through the years. George W. Bush looking at his watch, the "you're no Jack Kennedy" moment, Ford on Soviet influence in Europe, sweaty Nixon, etc. etc. etc.
So why do I give it 4 stars? Two reasons:
1. Jim Lehrer has moderated more debates than anyone else, and his unique perspective from the moderato...more
So why do I give it 4 stars? Two reasons:
1. Jim Lehrer has moderated more debates than anyone else, and his unique perspective from the moderato...more
A fast, easy read. I bought an autographed copy for my Dad for Christmas (which is why this review won't go up on Facebook as Dad lurks there on occasion), which I expect he will enjoy immensely as he is a long time fan of Jim Lehrer. For me, it was more lightweight than I expected: more anecdote than analysis (until the end section on how to be a good moderator). It was basically an insider's retrospective on about 40 years of the water cooler moments -- the moments people were talking about th...more
Sep 09, 2012
Alexa Wight
added it
At first, reading this book on a week's notice that I'd have to read it for a class starting in a week with multiple assignments on the book, made me a bit stressed when starting. Even in the first pages I realized this is a very enjoyable book even though I had previously no interest in the topic of political debates. I came to understand that it really felt more narrative than dense, analytical writing I had experienced in past history class' summer reading. I thought this book was a great way...more
This book is a bit of a niche book, I will admit. If you like Presidential politics and debates though you will likely find this history of debates by Jim Lehrer interesting. He goes back to the first televised debates of Kennedy and Nixon and covers them up to the 2008 election. Lehrer has been a moderator for many of these debates and he shares his first hand experiences, both good and bad, of the debates and the debaters. He wraps up the book talking about some of the other functions he has m...more
Lehrer wrote this book well--a pretty good balance of analysis and personal anecdotes about the debates (I would have liked a little more analysis). Not to mention his refreshing voice. Reading this book really gave me a great idea of how much pressure is on the candidates in presidential and vice-presidential debates; every word could be the one that decides the election. Lehrer is surprisingly candid about his experiences and really makes you feel the tension of the moment. He offers clear, in...more
This was a very interesting book. I learned a lot about the importance of presidential debates, something that I knew little about before. I had never known how much thought goes into every aspect of a debate from the venue to the topic to the moderator to the participants. Further, I could never have anticipated how much effort is involved on the part of the moderator and how much time goes into crafting a question and creating a debate with a flow where true dialogue occurs. This book was educ...more
A short book of mostly anecdotes and brief recollections by one of the most prolific debate moderators. Many of these memories I had heard before, but it was sometimes fun to simply enjoy his stories from his perspective.
Won't really bring anything new or enlightening to history, but for those that are fans of Jim Lehrer or are political fans who love watching the debates, then the memories are fun to relive. (like the Clinton/Bush/Perot debates or the Gore/Bush ones in 2000).
It's too bad that...more
Won't really bring anything new or enlightening to history, but for those that are fans of Jim Lehrer or are political fans who love watching the debates, then the memories are fun to relive. (like the Clinton/Bush/Perot debates or the Gore/Bush ones in 2000).
It's too bad that...more
I read this for my upcoming book club meeting. It was interesting to hear Lehrer's experiences behind the scenes. I think enjoyment of this book is definitely based on how much of the debates one has experienced in their lifetime. It becomes much more relevant when you can remember having watched or listened to the debate and then reading Lehrer's description as he saw it at the time. My favorite part was his acceptance and embrace of his past mistakes. It takes a well-grounded person to be able...more
I felt a little sorry for the piling-on Jim Lehrer took after the first presidential debate this year. He is in position to know more about presidential debates than anyone since he's moderated more than anyone else. It's true that quite a few momentous events have occurred in these debates, but as they're in a public forum, they haven't escaped from memory for most of us who were there. Lehrer doesn't have a whole lot to add to these events although some of the behind-the-scenes stories provide...more
Im going to start out saying that I am a political junkie. I watch two things on TV: the news and The Vampire Diaries (in that order). I also am a fan of non-fiction books about 20th century history. My point is that I have read books on similar topics as this and, basically, it is not my first time at the non-fiction political rodeo.
"Tension City" was probably one of the worst non-fiction books that I have ever read. There were a few things that Jim Lehrer did that turned me off as a reader. F...more
"Tension City" was probably one of the worst non-fiction books that I have ever read. There were a few things that Jim Lehrer did that turned me off as a reader. F...more
Let me start by saying that I really like and respect Jim Lehrer. I think the Newshour is the best news program by far. You learn a lot more by watching one episode of the Newshour than you do from watching 24 straight hours of any of the cable news networks.
This book recounts all the presidential debates, even the ones Lehrer wasn't involved in. I found most of the stories about the non-Lehrer debates to be largely uninteresting, with the exception of the 1988 presidential debate, in which Ber...more
This book recounts all the presidential debates, even the ones Lehrer wasn't involved in. I found most of the stories about the non-Lehrer debates to be largely uninteresting, with the exception of the 1988 presidential debate, in which Ber...more
From the pre-eminant US presidential debate moderator, a crisp look behind the scenes. Despite massive preparation going into the debates, much hinges on the unexpected: a chance glance, tone of voice, or makeup malfunction. In some debates, radio listeners get a completely different impression on a candidates performance than television viewers. The title is from the words of Bush 1: "Ugly, I don't like 'em...Those big time things...it was tension city, Jim"
Even with Lehrer's lack-luster prose style, this book shines. It reads almost like a sports bio, but addressing Presidential Debates rather than World Series. There are wonderful looks behind the scenes of the debates, including useful information on the creation and selection of the questions. Topics in the book include the story behind the infamous "Killer Question" asked to Michael Dukakis, Monica and Bill's other "women problems", and the question of who actually won the Nixon/Kennedy debate...more
"Tension City" is the first book I have read by Jim Lehrer, although I am a regular viewer of the "Newshour" on PBS. The book is well written, so it is an easy read. I watched many of the debates that Mr. Lehrer writes about, and remember many of the events in the book. Now I have an understanding of the interesting behind-the-scenes activities of the moderators, panelists, and presidential/vice presidential candidates.
This was a quick read (via Kindle). I was familiar with most of the material covered, but I did enjoy some of the author's stories about the background events to some of the debates. I think the most interesting part of the book was reading about some of the debate reflections from the past presidential and vice presidential candidates. For anyone interested in politics, it's certainly an interesting quick read.
Surprisingly entertaining. Not only did it show that being a moderator is harder than you think, but it gave very personal glimpses into the minds of men who would be president. I felt that the anecdotes here gave more personal insight than whole biographies because this is how the man reacted to pressure and strain and criticism, not just his policies and goals. Enlightening.
Quick pace considering the time frame this book covers. I was struck by the debate over the Bernie Shaw question and the fallout from what was believed to be a leak by the female panelists.
I also was amused by George HW Bush's grumpiness toward debates. This book focuses heavily on post-debate recaps and analysis with few other people than the candidates themselves.
I also was amused by George HW Bush's grumpiness toward debates. This book focuses heavily on post-debate recaps and analysis with few other people than the candidates themselves.
The idea of the book really caught my attention as one of my favorite genres is presidential history and biographies. The book is a quick read, and had some great inside stories about the debates that are highlighted. But in the end it was more about Jim Lehrer's role in them than anything - how he prepped, handled issues, etc. If you're a fan of his you should love this book, just not what I'd hoped for.
I listened to this book. As it happens listening is best, assuming this appears in a print version. Because Lehrer not only moderated many presidential debates but interviewed participants years later for a historical project, the recorded version often includes either the voices from the debates or the interviews. There is also a lot about how Lehrer approached the debates and his craft which is fascinating and informative.
view 1 comment
A modest book on presidential candidate debates told from the perspective of one who was inside the process. Well-written, as you would expect from someone of Lehrer's talent, but having lived through the period and watched nearly all of the debates, I found the material mostly a rehash with little in the way of new insights.
A breezy history of televised Presidential debates as told by a man who was moderator for many of them. With his typical self-deprecation Lehrer reserves all the harsh judgments for his own performance. Lehrer demonstrates again, as he did with his memoirs (A Bus of my Own), that he is, sadly, a dinosaur by the standards (such as they are) of today's "journalism". Bring back the dinosaurs!!
This was a rather interesting look at debates from the point of view of the moderator. I liked the behind the scenes looks at the debates and only am dinging it a bit for not having more of that. Somehow Lehrer didn't come across as likeable as he does on TV. However, it is a good, quick read.
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
James Charles Lehrer is an American journalist and the news anchor for The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer on PBS, known for his role as a frequent debate moderator during elections. Lehrer is an author of non-fiction and fiction, drawing from his experiences and interests in history and politics.
More about Jim Lehrer...
Share This Book
No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »
“Not everyone can be relaxed or comfortable enough to seriously listen to the (debate or interview) answers.”
—
1 person liked it
More quotes…
